Salvation Army Serves Hundreds of Meals to Truckers Stranded at Provincial Border

When hundreds of truckers ad individuals were suddenly stranded at the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border due to protests, The Salvation Army corps/church in Truro and Springhill stepped up to provide food, hydration, and emotional and spiritual care.

The protests began at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 22. By Wednesday morning, word was spreading that hundreds of people were held up at the provincial border with no choice but to wait. While many were redirected into the town of Amherst, others were delayed on the highway with no access to food or water.

“People were in urgent need of food”

Learning this, The Salvation Army leapt into action. Each location began by preparing sandwiches— volunteers in Truro prepared more than 500 while volunteers in Springhill prepared 250. They packed the sandwiches into bagged lunches, which included granola bars, sweet treats and bottled water.

“The volunteers did an exceptional job,” explains Jan Keats, emergency disaster services coordinator. “People were in urgent need of food and the hard work of the volunteers made it possible for us to serve.”

Volunteer hands out water to people stranded at the provincial border

When volunteers arrived on-site, one team began distributing the lunches to those who were detoured into the town, while the other team hit the highway and served those waiting on the side of the road.

“It’s so important to volunteer during these times,” explains Beverly Sharpe, a Salvation Army volunteer who was on site. “Everyone really appreciates us coming out here today. It’s really fulfilling.”

In just a few hours, hundreds were served. Each lunch was met with a smile and words of appreciation by the stranded travelers who felt as if they had been forgotten about until The Salvation Army arrived.

“It’s often said ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, but it takes an Army to care for a community,” explains Lt Matt Reid, church pastor in Truro.  “That’s what happened here today, hearing about the need, and The Salvation Army being engaged to ensure hope was given.”

By Angela Rafuse